Epidemiology

The
study of epilepsy in the community is important in understanding the
causes of the condition and impact of the treatment and in planning the
delivery of healthcare.

We have continued
epidemiological studies of epilepsy in the People’s Republic of China
and Brazil. We are looking into several aspects of epilepsy in the
Republic of Georgia and in Kenya . Studies into the aetiological risk
factors of epilepsy in Brazil , Kenya , China and India are continuing.
We are following up a large cohort of patients with epilepsy to
ascertain the risk of cancer co-morbidity, either as a result of
exposure to antiepileptic drugs or to common genetic predisposition.
Studies of the risk of drowning and suicide amongst people with
epilepsy are currently being carried out.

We
are in final stages of planning a follow-up study of the National
General Practice of Epilepsy Cohort to determine long-term seizure
outcome and mortality in a population-based cohort of newly diagnosed
patients now followed for 20 years.

We are planning an assessment of primary care led epilepsy services in Kent.